Fulcrum block for foot treatment



Nov. 18, 1924- 1,516,464

G. C. TAPLIN FULCRUM BLOCK FOR FOOT TREATMENT Filed March 3. 1924 (7 61)? & lpZzk,

Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEORGE C. TAPLIN, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FULGRUM BLQCK FOR FOOT TREATMENT.

Application filed March 3, 1924. Seriafl No. 696,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE C. TAPLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fulcrum Blocks for Foot Treatment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to appliances for use by osteopaths and other practitioners, and is embodied in a block adapted to be firmly supported in either of a plurality of positions on a base, and to support a portion of a foot elevated above the base in such manner that the muscular force of the operator may be advantageously exerted in manipulating bones and tissues of the foot in various ways, to correct displaced or broken down arches and produce other use ful results, the block presenting a. plurality of fulcrum port-ions on which different portions of the foot may be flexed.

Of the accompanying drawings forming apart of this speoification,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fulc-rum block.

Figures 2 and 3 are side views, showing the block in the position shown by Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view, showing the block in the position shown by Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a side view, illustrating by dotted lines, one of the uses of the block.

Figures 6 and 7 are side and top views, illustrating by dotted lines other uses of the block.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

A block embodying the invention is made of resilient material, preferably vulcanized rubber, compounded and vulcanized as in the manufacture of rubber heels for shoes, the surfaces of the block being sufficiently resilient and yielding to prevent injury to foot tissues pressed against the block, and at the same time support the foot against pressure. exerted upon it.

The block has two flat faces 12 and 13, arranged at different angles, or in planes diverging from each other, as shown, the relative arrangement of said faces being such that the face 12 may be the base face, as shown by Figures 2 and 3, or the face 13 may be the base face, as shown by Figure 5. In each case the base face is adapted to bear on a horizontal base 6, the line or direction of force exerted on the foot, as hereinafter described, falling within the base face, so that the block may have a stable support in either of two positions.

The block has an intermediate arched face, intersecting a margin of the flat faces 12 and 13, and including a longitudinally straight crown portion 15, somewhat convex side portions 15 and an abruptly rounded portion or continuation 15 intersecting the flat face 12. The block has a flat facet 16 intersecting the face 13 and the crown 15, as shown.

When the block is in the position shown by Figures 1, 2, 3, 1, and 6, the face 12 being the base face, a foot f having an arch to be reset, may be placed upon the block, so that the arch is directly over the facet 16, as shown by Figure 6. The operator grasping the heel part of the foot with one hand, and the for part with the other hand, may now produce leverage over the facet as a fulc-rum, to lift and reset a displaced arch bone.

Then the block is in the position shown by Figures. 5 and 7, the face 13 being the base face, the rounded portion 15 of the arched face presents a curved ridge without a flattened portion or facet. The forward portion of the foot may be placed on the portion 15 so that the distal ends of the metatarsal bones are supported, said portion acting as a fulcrum over which the operator may abruptly flex each toe, to reduce adhesions of the extensor tendons and hyper-extensions of the metatarso-phalangeal joints.

The arched face is operative when the face 13 is the base face, the portion 15 of said arched face presenting a fulcrum portion upon which the operator may flex the arch of the foot as a whole, to reduce contractures and develop the desired flexibility. The flexure thus caused, is less abrupt than those above described and may cause a longitudinal curvature of the foot sole, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 7. The elongated straight portion 18 at the intersection of the flat faces 12 and 13 may be utilized as an elongated fulcrum portion by substantially inverting the block from the position shown by Figure 5, so that the arched face 15, 15 contacts with and is adapted to rock on the supporting base 7), the elongated fulcrum portion 18 being supported in a raised position above the base and adapted to be variously inclined by rocking the arched face, which is now a rocking base face, on the base I). The elongated fulcrum portion 18 is useful in reducing adhesions in extensor tendons and resetting metatarsophalangeal oints. Its freedom to be variously inclined enables the operator to Work advantageously With the foot in various positions.

The block shown and described provides four fulcrum portions, each adapted to-support and permit flexure of a portion of a foot and each differing in form from the others. The portions 16 and 18 permit abrupt fiextures, and the arched portion 15, 15 permits a less abrupt and more extended flexure.

I claim:

1. A resilient fulcrum block for foot treatment, having two flat faces arranged at diftersecting marginal portions of the flat faces, so that the block has a plurality of fulcrum portions, each adapted to support and permit flexure of a human foot, and each differing in form from the others, one of said fulcrum portions being elongated and formed at the intersection of the flat faces, some of said fulcrum portions being formed to permit relatively abrupt fiexures, while another fulcrum portion, formed by said arched face, is adapted not only to permit less abrupt and more extended flexures, but also to constitute a rocking base face supporting the elongated fulcrum portion in a raised position and permitting various inclinations thereof.

' 2. A resilient fulcrum block substantially as specified by claim 1, one of said fulcrum portions including a flat facet of limited area. v V

3. A resilient fulcrum block substantially as specified by claim 1, one of said fulcrum portions being a rounded continuation of said arched face intersecting one of said fiat faces.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

GEORGE o. TAPLIN. 

